White Sox notebook: Plans change for Broadway's big debut

Thursday

Sep 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMSep 27, 2007 at 3:04 AM

Lance Broadway’s family and friends were all scheduled to arrive in town Friday for the White Sox’s final weekend series against Detroit. He might not pitch, the thinking went, but the clan was coming anyway to see the right-hander on the big-league club.

Nathaniel Whalen

Lance Broadway’s family and friends were all scheduled to arrive in town Friday for the White Sox’s final weekend series against Detroit. He might not pitch, the thinking went, but the clan was coming anyway to see the right-hander on the big-league club.

Then came news Sunday that Broadway would be making his first major league start today, and the rookie began calling the travel agents.

“Once I get the start, it means we have to cancel a bunch of plane tickets and rebuy them,” Broadway said. “On three days’ notice, they are not the cheapest things to find. You only make your debut one time, so it will be worth it.”

Broadway, the 15th overall pick of the 2005 draft, was a September call-up and was placed in the bullpen, not even expecting a start. But then word came that the Sox were skipping Mark Buehrle’s start, and now Broadway will be making what he hopes will be a memorable debut.

“Most of the day, it is going to be on my mind,” Broadway said. “I’m probably going to be pretty nervous. But hopefully, when I get to the ballpark and warm up, it will slowly take over that it is just baseball. You’ve done this 100 times. Just go through your routine.”

Broadway is probably fourth among the Sox young pitchers —behind John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez — and could be a big key if the Sox choose to make a trade this offseason. Manager Ozzie Guillen said, though, that today’s start is not a showcasing of the 24-year-old.

“I just pitch him because he’s the one we chose to pitch, not for a showcase or be involved for next year,” Guillen said. “It’s more to be involved for next season than be a showcase. You’re going to showcase in the big-league level, then everyone out there knows what he can do.

“You have so many scouts now in so many different places, they got their own opinion. I just do what’s good for him to start against a team and good to see us take a look at what he can do.”

Planning ahead

The Sox released their tentative 2008 home schedule. They are to begin the season on the road before their home opener, tentatively scheduled for April 7 against Minnesota.

Other highlights: hosting the New York Yankees from April 22-24 and the Cubs from June 27-29; interleague games June 13-15 against Colorado and June 17-19 vs. Pittsburgh; and two 10-game homestands, from Aug. 5-14 and Sept. 5-14.

On the mend

Pablo Ozuna had heavy stitches and metal buttons removed from his fractured right fibula on Sept. 21 at Rush University Medical Center. He’s rehabbing with the team but cannot participate in any running or jumping activities for the next four weeks.